Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and one great way to enjoy it is to Bike and Ride.
The CTA Bike & Ride program is a collaborative effort between the CTA, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF), the Chicago Department of Transportation Bicycle Program (CDOT), and the CTA's Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee.
As part of an ongoing effort to encourage environmentally-friendly transportation, the CTA has extended the hours of the Bike & Ride program to all hours except weekday rush periods (4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
The CTA will kick off the Bikes on Buses pilot program on Sunday, June 10 to coincide with Mayor Richard M. Daley's Bike to Transit Week celebration. During the test run, the #72 North Avenue and #63 ? 63rd Street bus routes, which travel to popular destinations such as North Avenue and 63rd Street beaches, respectively, will be equipped with bicycle racks. The bike racks, which carry two bicycles each, are mounted to the front of the bus and take as little as 30 seconds to load. The program will be in effect during all hours of service on the two routes.
The CTA will evaluate the Bikes on Buses program at the end of the summer.
Participants in the Bike & Ride program pay the regular $1.50 fare to board trains and buses. There is no additional fee to transport bicycles. Program guidelines prohibit children under the age of 12 from boarding buses and trains with bicycles and an adult must accompany cyclists ages 12 to 17.
The CTA also sells accessories for cycling enthusiasts such as bicycle jerseys and water bottles. To purchase these items, please call the Gift Express representative at 312-664-7200, ext. 3066, or visit the CTA's website at www.transitchicago.com.
For more information on the CTA's Bike & Ride program or to request a free brochure, contact the CTA's Customer Assistance hotline at 1-888-YOUR-CTA, or the agency's website.
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